Kites Paperback – February 1, 2000

This is hands-down the best book for the kite hobby you can find. It is not aimed at rank beginners, and it's not a kids book. But if you're serious about your kite-flying and especially building, this is your one-stop sourcebook. From a thai PakPao to a Scott Sled to traditional box kites and everything between, you'll find great designs and resources for making that kite perform. I've enjoyed this book so much that my first version literally wore out. I got tired of gluing it back together so I purchased this reprint so I'd have a good copy. You will also enjoy the author's history of kites and kite flying. It's all here -- but not for children. High school age and over should be able to tackle the concepts.

I am basing this review on an edition of this book (published by Penguin and previously called the Penguin Book of Kites) which I have owned for more than twenty years.This is a wonderful book for both the beginning kite flyer/maker and for those with more experience. It starts with the basics: types of kites, how to launch and fly them (like why you SHOULDN'T run with a kite to launch it), and continues on to materials, methods and many plans for kites. From your basic diamond-shaped kite to deltas to dragons (long-tailed) to box kites to fighting kites to stunt kites to multi-celled "snowflake" and parafoil kites, it has enough to keep you busy for many years.In a word, this book is COMPREHENSIVE, and if you only own one kite book (and I own many) this is an excellent choice. My old edition is falling apart at the seams from overuse, and I am truly thankful that this book has finally been re-issued (after 24 years). I'm getting a new one right away!

I bought this book thinking it would be helpful for kite building. It has some very nice history, lots of general pictures/diagrams of various kinds of kites that help to identify differences in various types. It has no useful information regarding dimensions, ratios, etc that one needs to construct a kite. The few things it has on construction are basically so generic as to be useless.

"KITES," the book, made a whole lot of kids and grown ups delighted back in the last century and then it went away. My copy was lost when KATRINA hit NEW ORLEANS. But now, everything is O.K. because "KITES" is back!! "KITES" will be hard to put down, and, I assure you, it will spark creativity in the making of kites and CONVERSATION too!! "KITES" is not just a book that shows you how to make kites, although it does that quite well, and for all levels of builders, "KITES" is a beautifully written and illustrated history of kites, their colorful builders and some really ingenious ways that their builders used them. Incredible!! You and your kid will learn how to make some really neat KITES, that's a cool thing in itself but, you all are going to ENGAGE in CONVERSATION for a really long time!! "KITES" will always be in someone's hands, you are not going to shelve this one!! That, in itself is worth buying two copies for. One, you take to work to read so you can be ahead of the game with the kid who probably will not put the book down!! If you have a smart kid, this is the one, this is definately a keeper!!! If they still do projects in school, "KITES" will be a wonderful reference book! So, if you like to help make children smart, buy this book. If you have a smart kid, then, buy this book!! If you like to construct things that fly, buy this book. If you like to learn stuff and then talk to your kid, you guessed it, buy this book!! I am truly glad to have this book back and can not wait to get it into the hands of my GRAND-CHILDREN, and, oh, I bought three copies, one for me, one for them, and one for their dad--cause I want to relive those "LAST CENTURY" moments with him again too!!! Can you tell I like this book? Enjoy!!

The 1st 110 pages of this 220 page book are about the history of kites. Interesting, and very well illustrated with old photos. If that's what you're interested in, it's probably a five star. If you're interested in flying a kite today, then it's more like a one star. The section on building and flying kites is very poorly illustrated. If you're not already proficient in kite building, and you haven't seen a prototype of the kite you're trying to build in person, I'm guessing this book won't get you off the ground. There is some discussion about kite flying tips, types of line, and reels, though it seems thrown together, and again poorly illustrated.

One and only book you will ever need on kites. An icon.

I already have a copy of this delightful book, kmown as the kiters bible. This one's intended for a friend far away, who might enjoy the contents as much as I have!

This is a great book. I am a kite novice and liked the beginning part of the book which is about the history of kites and then goes on into drawings of different kites.The only bad thing about this book is the binding which is terrible. We have flicked trough this book about twice and the pages are all falling out!

Bought this book for my boyfriend his a kite flyer his very please with it. Very pleased would recommend.

Thank u